§ 17. Huw Irranca-DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading report on independent productions transmitted by the BBC. [137039]
§ Tessa JowellI was very disappointed that the BBC failed to meet its 25 per cent. independent production quota for 2002–03. I take this extremely seriously and have written to the BBC Chairman, Gavyn Davies, to say so. In future, it will be a matter for Ofcom to enforce this quota and they will have powers to fine in cases of non-compliance.
§ 20. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the BBC on using the licence fee to fund the future development of its on-line services. [137042]
§ Tessa JowellI have had no recent discussions with the BBC on this matter. The BBC's online service is currently the subject of an independent review by Philip Graf. The findings of this review will feed into the forthcoming review of the BBC's Charter, and as such, will have a bearing on the funding arrangements for the future developments of BBC online services.